It All Began...

Here's the video explaining how I wrote this:

*****

 It's not always easy to be the first one in your family to do something. It's even more difficult if it's been awhile since anyone in the family has done a first. Then take into account a father who scrimped and saved to send his only child to school while the rest of the family called him a fool for thinking an education was worth anything.

Before I set off to the distant city to start my education, Father sat me down, looked me in the eye, and laid it on thick. "I'm a man of few words, so I'll keep this short. I've invested my life savings into you and this school. Make me proud. And I hope you'll come back flush with herbal knowledge that will help the entire community. There's nothing for you here worth having. But knowledge will allow you to be something. Now off with you - the cart taking you to the city is just about here."

And that was that. What savings that were left after tuition went to paying my way there.

I've never been to the city. Heck - I've never been much beyond the house. And now I'm watching the sky, the landscape, even the air, change. It's so weird to see so much change day after day. The rhythm of the cart's movement never changed, although the endless bumps and potholes did lessen as we got closer and closer to town.

*****

After I was dropped off at the school - the driver, whose name I never learned and who didn't speak at all, but was kind enough to take me to the front door - I was rushed straight to a room and into a seat behind a desk. I wasn't told much besides that I was late but also just in time. If that was supposed to be some sort of explanation of anything, I didn't get it.

An adult, presumably the teacher, took one look at me, grunted, and said to the entire class (did I mention there were about ten kids, all roughly my age?), "Welcome to Herbology and Apothecary Training. I'm your instructor. Call me Madam Wintergleam. Now, we shall learn about the wonders of the natural world and do so from the safety of this schoolroom. Now, we'll... yes?"

I'd just put my hand up. "Will we get to pick herbs and see places and...?"

"Oh my goodness, no. It's dangerous! A boy died recently, so all classes are now held safely within these walls. And now to begin..."

And that was that. I tried to pay attention but I just wasn't able to absorb what was being said. Sit in this room? How boring! At least I'd been able to walk next to the cart from time to time to stretch my legs. And the thought of sitting in a room at home was unthinkable. So my mind wandered. And I got caught.

"If you are bored, leave my classroom. Walk. Move. Do whatever. But do it elsewhere." Shamed, and with the sound of giggles and guffaws, I left. And vowed to not return.

Which is how I found myself in High Rannoc, standing on the avenue in front of my now former school, with all my belongings slung over my shoulder, wondering what to do. And my only thought was that outside the city walls there must be an herbalist, a midwife, a wise woman... someone who could teach me in exchange for labour.

I'd noticed a path heading off into the woods just before the cart had passed through the city gates. Perhaps that path would lead to my educational salvation. My naiveté told me it was worth a try. Far better, I told myself, than trying to catch a ride back to home and admitting failure.

It turns out my luck was both with me and against me. The path did eventually lead to what could only be a witch's cottage - it was a very basic dwelling, bare of decoration, but with a certain air of herbs, peace, and healing. I knocked on the door, although I already figured no one was home given that no smoke was rising from the chimney. 

The door was unlocked, so I let myself in. A few basic things were next to a work table, like a mortar and pestle, a cauldron (over the fire pit), and not much else. Except for a book. It was open to the first page and I must admit that I felt curious, so I started reading.

It opened by saying the witch who owns the cottage isn't here with no mention of returning. How odd!

Which is when there was a knock on the door, which opened right after. A young man walked in with warts all over his lips. Somehow, he managed to croak out "Help me!"